HIS LORD BISHOP:-Gentlemen, we have now arrived at the end of another year, and I have to make a statement to you with regard to the work that has been done during the past twelve months. The number of boys in the school has been 44, and the average attendance 40. We have to deplore the loss by death of one of our boys, and also the withdrawal of several, some on account of ill-health, and some because their parents have left the Colony. We have, however, gained several new boys, and I think on the whole the numbers have been fairly maintained. The work of the school has been, I think, very satisfactory. The boys have worked well, and the masters have worked well too. We have had our usual routine of classes and examinations, and I am glad to say that the results have been very encouraging.
In addition to these we hope next year to teach Chinese and Latin. Boys who are growing up here will not be able to find employment in government offices unless they are acquainted with Chinese. I found that the want of this branch here has been the means of carrying off some of our elder boys to the Central School, and there they are put with Chinese boys to learn Chinese. I do not know exactly how it is done, but if it is anything after the fashion of Chinese teaching I think it absolutely useless for us. An entirely different system is wanted for the teaching of Chinese to English boys, and to put our boys with fifty or sixty Chinese all yelling out the Chinese classics at the top of their voices is simply useless. I have, therefore, engaged a teacher to commence next term with a class of some seven or eight boys whose parents have agreed to let them join such a class, making a small extra payment for it. The Chinaman does not know English, but the boys will have books that will contain both the English and Chinese. They will begin by learning the system of reading Chinese and also to write the Chinese character. They will learn the sounds and write them down in their own English character. They will therefore have the sounds and they will have books to give them the meaning, so I hope we shall be able to train boys not only educated in the branches of an English education but in Chinese too. Latin also will be taught, the language so much needed by all of us who want to know our own language.
The work that has been done this term has been examined most kindly by Mr. Jennings, Mr. Ost, Mr. Lee, Mr. Coughtrie, and myself. I have done very little indeed. I have so much work that I have had no more than time to examine in scripture. The Bishop then read a letter from Mr. Ost giving the result of the examination, and went on to say—I don't think I ought to close without thanking, in the name of the Committee, Mr. and Mrs. Hambling for their exertions during the year that has closed. I have had every reason to be satisfied with their work, which I believe to be thoroughly and conscientiously done, and I think we are exceedingly fortunate in having them at the head of the school. (Applause).
And now, Sir, it remains for me only to ask your Excellency kindly to take the meeting in hand, and after your remarks, if you wish to make them first, to distribute the prizes to the boys. Yes, there is one thing more. The prizes have to be paid for. They cost $100. I have received $25. I shall be glad if friends will make this up so that the money shall not be taken out of the general funds of the school.
HIS EXCELLENCY:-My Lord Bishop, ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you all, like myself, have listened with very much pleasure to the very interesting remarks that have just fallen from the Bishop. As for myself, though still suffering, as the Bishop has said, from a severe accident, it gave me great pleasure to accept the invitation to preside here on this important and interesting occasion. It will always be alike my duty and my pleasure, in this, as in other colleges over which I have presided, to promote, by every means in my power, the great cause of education. (Applause).
Before proceeding to distribute the prizes, I will make a few remarks, in the first place, to the masters and professors in this and other colleges and schools in Hong-kong, for I speak to all, and, secondly, to the scholars whom I see before me. The true position of the instructors of youth has been laid down for all time in those beautiful and well-known verses of the Latin poet Juvenal:—
"Di majorum umbris et jus pondere terram,
Spinatosque deos, et inania perpetuum ver,
Qui preceptorem sancti volera parentis
Habeo."
In other words "The preceptor should hold the holy place of father." I am sure the masters of this and the other colleges in Hong Kong will allow me to exhort them to follow the practice of one of the greatest teachers, perhaps the greatest, of any age or nation—I mean Dr. Arnold, who said that the master should ever seek to keep adding to his own stores of knowledge, so that "the pupils may drink not from a stagnant pond, but from a fresh running stream." (Applause).
Dr. Arnold, you will recollect, was not only one of the greatest teachers of any place or age, but one who did much to exalt and ennoble the scholastic profession, both by his teaching and his general bearing. As for the scholars of many races who will be educated now and henceforward, in this and other institutions of a like kind, I would exhort them to prove by their diligence, energy, and good conduct, their appreciation of the many advantages secured for them by the wise liberality of the Colonial Government and Legislature and here by the liberality of many generous friends of education in this community.
I will remind them, moreover, that I have notified publicly that the first appointments in the public service will be given by competitive examination, without distinction of race or creed. I am also about to propose to the Colonial Legislature that here, as in several other Crown Colonies, two or more young men chosen from the best scholars of the several colleges shall be periodically sent at the public expense to complete their education in Europe as members of the legal or medical professions or as civil engineers. (Applause).
These are the professions that will enable them to succeed best in life both in Hongkong, in the various settlements at the treaty ports, and hereafter probably, in the great neighbouring country, the empire of China. (Applause). You will thus perceive the future success in life of every pupil will depend mainly on his own energy and perseverance. Dr. Arnold once observed that in his long experience he had found that one boy does not differ from another so much in talent as in energy and perseverance. I exhort you to spare no effort to acquire a thorough knowledge of the English language, which, like the English race, is fast overspreading the world. 100 millions of the human race already speak the English language as their mother tongue, whereas not more than 40 millions speak the other two European languages most diffused after the English, namely, French and German.
A French author said to an Englishman, a friend of mine, that if he were to begin to write again, he would write not in French, but in English, for a century hence that language will be spoken by 300 millions probably, whereas French will probably remain stationary. My remarks hitherto have been applicable generally to all colleges and schools in Hongkong.
I am sure, ladies and gentlemen, as I have already said, we all listened with much interest to the remarks of the Bishop with respect to the special objects of St. Paul's College, under the roof of which we are now assembled. It is evident there must be in this Colony many English children whom, for various reasons, their parents do not desire to send home for their education, and it is most desirable that they should have an opportunity of being educated under the nurture of the church of their fathers and under the supervision of our Bishop. (Applause).
In conclusion, I would repeat that I believe we may reckon on finding in the whole body of masters here and elsewhere a conscientious zeal in the discharge of their important duties. Still, with whatever care and attention the studies may be chosen and directed, the successful result must rest mainly on the scholars themselves. My young friends, by every motive which can influence reflecting and responsible beings, by regard for your own welfare and happiness in this world, by the fear of future discredit, by the hope of future fame and success, by motives yet more urgent, by nobler and purer aspirations, by the duty and obedience we owe to the will of our Creator, by the awful account which we shall all have to render of the talents entrusted to us for improvement, by these high arguments, I exhort you and all of you so to number your days that you may apply your hearts unto wisdom." (Loud Applause).
HIS EXCELLENCY then distributed the prizes as follows:---
CLASS I.
F. Shepherd. Reading, Composition, Algebra, Geology, History, Grammar, and Physiology.
A. Möller. Arithmetic, Euclid, Physiology, Map Drawing, Freehand, Landscape, Geography, and Time Drawing.
J. Hammert. Algebra, Composition, English History, Map Drawing, and Time Drawing.
L. Bart. Physical Geography, Geology, English, Physiology, Freehand Drawing, and Landscape.
Fritz Lammert. Holy Scripture, Reading, and English History.
CLASS II.
Frank Lammert. Writing, Spelling, History, and Grammar.
Alfred Ramsay. Arithmetic, Geology, Map, Physical Geography, History, General Geography, Drawing (Landscape and Flowers), Writing.
Ernest Lammert. General Improvement.
Frederick Grimble. Holy Scripture, Spelling, and Drawing (Flowers).
Andrew Millac. Attendance, Grammar, Geography, and Drawing (Flowers).
J.W. ...
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